Improved access at Hawick Museum
Friday, August 31 2007
Hawick Museum is looking bigger and brighter now that the second phase of alterations to improve access to the building is complete.
Work first started in 2004 with the provision of ramped access to the ground floor of the museum, disabled parking and toilet facilities. Phase Two, completed earlier this year, involved the installation of a lift which means that people who are unable to use the stairs can now visit the Scott Gallery, the largest exhibition space in the Museum.
As well as improved access, the alterations have enabled the creation of new displays, in areas of the museum that have been behind the scenes for over 20 years. The Founders’ Room is dedicated to the origins of the Museum, displaying a selection of objects and curios collected by the Hawick Archaeological Society who were largely responsible for the opening of Hawick Museum in 1910. There is also a wildlife display showing a small sample of the animals and birds that can be seen living or passing through Wilton Lodge Park and a new study console area, where inquirers and volunteers have space to carry out their research.
Over the years there have been many alterations and improvements made to the Museum. However, in the past, little consideration was given to
ensuring that all visitors could see the exhibits. These works, designed and supervised by the Council’s in-house architects, have all been carried out in line with the Disability Discrimination Act to give greater access but are sympathetic to the listed building status of the Museum.
The photographs show how the alterations have reinstated much of the original layout of the ground floor. The black and white photograph shows the museum as it was in the 1930s, while the colour shot shows the same area after its recent refurbishment. The alterations involved removal of partition walls that had blocked off the whole area from public access for decades.
Shona Sinclair, Curator of the Museum, said: “it is fantastic that visitors that are unable to use the stairs can now visit the Scott Gallery and it seems fitting that access has been improved in its widest sense with the new display areas allowing us to show more items from the original museum collection that are normally kept in storage due to lack of display space.”
For more information please contact Shona Sinclair, Hawick Museum, Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick, TD9 7JL, online 01450 373457.
Unified Solutions.